Tag: tenacity

hope

The Six Triple Eight, Part 2

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

I have been watching interviews and reading reviews about The Six Triple Eight over the past few days, and all are true. The movie accurately portrays the strength of the Black woman and our ability to take on challenges and excel. We’ve always had to prove ourselves worthy of our positions and place in this world (even today). I know the mental anguish all too well. Believe me, I have my own military stories, as well as civilian ones. As Johnnie Mae kept saying, being in the military was no different from being back home. She and Charity Adams were my sheros in the movie.

So, when I wrote my initial thoughts about the movie, I chose to focus on Lena’s character and her journey. Not her journey as a soldier but her journey as a woman trying to navigate through pain and still perform as if everything was okay. Still trying not to give too much of the movie away. Yes, I know that pain as well. Mine may not have been caused by the same thing, but the pain was there. As I said, I have my own military stories.

As I wrote in my last post, the movie was awesome! It’s definitely a must see!

Praying you have a wonderful weekend!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! Here’s what I shared on September 22, 2019, five years ago.

When I tell you this one post has had me crying for a few minutes now. So many emotions about this memory, about this particular “purse note.” It was the very first of my notes. When I wrote it ten years ago, I was told to keep it near and to reference it often. That I would need it. I had no idea what that meant, but I was obedient.

Over the years, I began to read it less and less often. At one point I was reading it almost daily. At times, I questioned some of the things I had written inside (nothing juicy, just things only I would eventually understand). This year, I’ve only read it twice. The crazy part is, it has actually taken ten years for me to fully grasp what I wrote. Hence, the reason I’m crying.

As I wrote a few blogs ago (had no idea it would tie into this one), be obedient. God really does know the outcome. He sees and knows all. Yes, I’m pretty emotional behind this one. Y’all, I just can’t believe I have kept this note in my purse for 10 years!! I am blown away by my compliance, my belief, my obedience (over the years), my willingness to follow God’s word and allow Him to lead (took a minute…well, almost 10 years to get here). Talk about mind blowing!

Whew! I’m going to end here and leave you with this. You never know what you can do until you do it. Allow God to lead. You may not understand the assignment, and half of the time you may even think you’re crazy. Just do what He asks. As I wrote on the back of the note, “God blessings are better than life.” I used to cringe every time I read it without the apostrophe (God’s). However, today, I see it differently. God blessings—meaning the size of the blessings—are better than life.

That’s all I have for you now. I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed Sunday.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
Blessed.

Hello! I’m hoping you’re doing well. I realize I haven’t greeted you in ages, which is pretty rude of me. It’s like me walking into a room and not speaking, or waking up and not saying “Good Morning.” Please forgive me for not acknowledging you before sharing my thoughts. I promise to do better and not only let you know you are loved at the end, but that your presence is appreciated at the beginning.

So, while looking for inspiration for this post, I found this prayer in one of my “Wednesday Writings” (July 21, 2021). It is one I haven’t said in a while or been mindful of. Here it is —

“I pray that I recognize and accept the opportunities He [God] sends my way. I pray fear does not stop me from moving forward. I pray God gives me the strength– mentally, spiritually and physically– to endure this task.”

I ended it with —

“I know God’s got me, but do I have myself?”

Hmmm…

That was a great question. Did I have myself? Well, I thought I did, and to some extent I did. However, I was still working through a lot of stuff. One of which was learning to put myself first. To stop overlooking my needs, desires, and feelings to appease others. That was in 2021. Today, I can’t say I am 100% there; however, I am pretty close (95-98%). Had to get over the guilt of feeling selfish. The interesting part is the ones who mattered the most, my two hearts, were the ones urging me to take care of myself, first. Maybe they are actually the reason for my growth. I just love them and the way they love me. I guess I said all of that to say, “Yes, I got me!”

I also found another gem in the post (besides the prayer). I was celebrating my continual days of writing. Here’s what I wrote —

“I’m on my 67th day of continuous blogging and refuse to stop until I reach 100 days.”

100 days…

100 days was my goal…

Y’all, I’m in tears! Today makes 1170 days of continuous blogging. And to think I was only trying to make it to 100. Back then I was struggling to post once a day. Now, I’m posting at least twice a day, and not only on this platform but others. Yep… I’m crying. I had no idea of what I was capable of. It may not seem significant to you but it’s huge to me. These are my 1170 blue hearts.💙

I’m going to go ahead and end here because I’m crying (tears of praise and gratitude) too much to keep writing. Praying you have a wonderful Sunday. ♥️

Love you always,

Shaun